This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Japanese to English
  3. Cinema, Film, TV, Drama

歓喜の歌

English translation: Ode to Joy/Song of Joy

15:05 Jan 7, 2023
Japanese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
Japanese term or phrase: 歓喜の歌
Dear ProZ members,

could you help me to understand why 歓喜の歌 has been used in the following sentence?
In a cartoon, the English word "glee" is mentioned, and a character tries to recall its meaning. He finally remembers and says:

歓喜の歌！Gleeだ！大喜び！大はしゃぎ！の

As far as I know, 歓喜の歌 ("song of joy") is not one of the meanings of "glee", so why is he saying it here? Though glee is a type of song, "joy" doesn't seem to be involved in that case.

I see that 歓喜の歌 is the Japanese translation for Beethoven's Ode to Joy.
It is also used to render "Zarathustras Rundgesang" in Nietzsche's book "Thus Spoke Zarathustra", which seems to be translated in English as "Zarathustra's Glee".
I don't know if some of this plays a role in our case, but I feel these links are a bit too vague to explain my sentence.

Do you have any ideas?

Thank you so much!
Riccardo91
Italy
English translation:Ode to Joy/Song of Joy
Explanation:
It's important to remember that English words aren't necessarily going to be borrowed with the original meaning and nuances intact. Based in the context though, it may not necessarily be that they are saying it's the exact same thing, but so much as that they are lining up words to convey joyfulness and excitement to the reader. 「大はしゃぎ」isn't about singing at all, and yet, it's there as well. I believe I have seen texts like this, and they always have served the purposes I mentioned above.

I hope this explanation helps!


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 25 mins (2023-01-07 15:31:31 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

With all of this in mind, I would consider translating「歓喜の歌！Gleeだ！大喜び！大はしゃぎ！の」 As "It's Ode to Joy! It's Glee! Joyfulness! Great excitement! And"
Depending on the actual context, it's also good possible to replace "Joyfulness" with either "Great happiness" os remove the "great" from excitement, as all of these depend on how much excitement needs to be conveyed, as well as to make the final translation more dynamic and natural for the target audience.
Selected response from:

ZT-Translations
Brazil
Local time: 14:00
Grading comment
Thanks!
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1Ode to Joy/Song of Joy
ZT-Translations
3Glee
Michael Hughes


  

Answers


19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Ode to Joy/Song of Joy


Explanation:
It's important to remember that English words aren't necessarily going to be borrowed with the original meaning and nuances intact. Based in the context though, it may not necessarily be that they are saying it's the exact same thing, but so much as that they are lining up words to convey joyfulness and excitement to the reader. 「大はしゃぎ」isn't about singing at all, and yet, it's there as well. I believe I have seen texts like this, and they always have served the purposes I mentioned above.

I hope this explanation helps!


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 25 mins (2023-01-07 15:31:31 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

With all of this in mind, I would consider translating「歓喜の歌！Gleeだ！大喜び！大はしゃぎ！の」 As "It's Ode to Joy! It's Glee! Joyfulness! Great excitement! And"
Depending on the actual context, it's also good possible to replace "Joyfulness" with either "Great happiness" os remove the "great" from excitement, as all of these depend on how much excitement needs to be conveyed, as well as to make the final translation more dynamic and natural for the target audience.

ZT-Translations
Brazil
Local time: 14:00
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 14
Grading comment
Thanks!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  David Gibney
6 hrs
  -> Thank you!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

42 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Glee


Explanation:
Although 歓喜の歌 is the Japanese translation for Ode to Joy, 歓喜 can also be translated as glee. For example:

歓喜に満つ
to be full of glee - 斎藤和英大辞典

I would probably omit the reference to Ode to Joy in the translation, and just say something like:

Glee! That’s the word! Meaning "joy" or "exultation"!

You could then add (if you want to keep the reference in there):

Just like in Beethoven’s "Ode to Joy".

But I personally feel it’s better omitted.

Michael Hughes
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:00
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search